Wind motor



. A. KING WIND MOTOR .Emily 35, ?1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1948 ma/who@ 06943455' 4. KING',

KING WIND MOTOR 5 Sheet s 3 Filed July 16 1948' ame/t C'HARL ES A. KING,

Patented July 15, 1952 w MOTOR Charles A. King, Mission, Tex. i Application July 16, 1948, Serial No. 39,021

2 Claims. o. 7o 24 v l This invention relates 'to wind motors. It is an object of'this invention to provide a wind motor operable about a central vertical axis.

The vanes may be fixed, hinged, or rotatableas the case may be. V

In accordance With one form of the invention. a vane frame is'constructed to rotate about a vertical axis, the vane frame itself comprising a series of rotatable vanes, these vanes rotating once on their individual vertical axes for each two revolutions of the frame. The motion of the frame is transmitted to a drive belt to be utilized as desired. A directional vane is positioned above the vane frame and is movable by the wind to move the rotating vanes into proper position with respect to the wind for most efficient operation. This V directional vane is electro-magnetically controlled by a series of electromagnets to be locked in position with respect to a stationary support, as long as the wind is steady. When the wind changes, the directional vane is automatically moved in accordance with the direction of the wind to again position the vane frame and its rotating vanes.

In another form of the 'invention.' an open cylindrical frame is provided with' a series of vanes fixed thereto, the angle and the direction of these vanes being such as to result in .the production of power irrespective of .the direction ofthe wind.

In still another form of the invention, a cylindrical frame is provided with aseries ofrno'vable vanes hinged about symmetrically arranged vertical axesgthese vanes swinging to and'fro "as the frame is rotated. h

The invention will be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is understood, however, that thes'e'drawings are illustrative and not definitive, and that changes may be made in the invention without departng from the spirit thereof as hereinafter claimed. V

Figura 1 represents a front elevation, partly-in section, of the first form of theinvention; whichincludes an electromagnetic control. V

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through *the structure of Figure 1, some of the parts being omitted for thesake ofclarity. r

Figure 3 is an enlarged magnetic control. Figure 4 is a wiring diagram of the electromagnetlc'control. Y

Figure 5is an enlarged elevation of one of the electromagnets, shown when the directional vane is disengaged therefrom.

I Figure 6 is a View at right angles to Figure. 5',

plan of the' 'electro- 2 showing the directional vane engaged with the electromagnet. 5

Figure 7 is a schematic plan View of a second form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a schematic plan view of a third form of the invention.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail showing a frictional clutch for temporarily locking the hinged vane of F'gure 8.

The species of invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be described first.

A rotatable frame o is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis within a stationary support H. The rame !0 comprises four quadrangular brackets |2, these brackets l2 being arranged in a cruciform shape as viewed from the top, and being fixed with respect to one another. It is obvious, of course, that the number of brackets 12 is arbitrary, and that more or fewer may be used. The brackets !2 are adapted to support the rotating vanes !4, [5, [6, and ll, so arranged that they rotate about vertical axes in the central portion of the brackets |2.

A central vertical portion of the frame o constitutes a sleeve 20 that is rotatable about a shaft 21 contained therein. The lower portion of the sleeve 20 is supported by a thrust bearing 22 mounted on an extension of the stationary support ll. The lower extremity of the sleeve 20 projects below the thrust hearing 22 and carries thereon a pulley 23. A drive belt 24 is trained over the pulley 23 to transmit the power of the frame I 0 as it rotates about the axis of the shaft 2 l.

On top of each bracket'l2 a pair of bearings 26 support a horizontal shaft 28. Each shaft 28 has a bevel gear 29 that meshes with a similar gear 30 at the upper extremity of the vertical shaft 32 on which each of the rotating vanes !4, [5, !6, and l'l is fixed. As a result, as the rotating vanes rotate about the vertical shafts 32, the motion thereof will be transmtted to the horizontal shafts 28. Each of the shafts 28 carries another bevel gear 33, and all ,four bevel gears 33 engage a bevel gear 35xed to the shaft 2l. The gearing is such that-the vanes !4, |5, IS, and l'l turn once on their shafts 32 for each two revolutions lative and not opposite. shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. With the wind coming from the left, the individual vanes I 4, !5, !6, and i 1 will be rotated about their shafts i 32in a counter-clockwise direction, as' indicated 3 by the small arrows near the vanes. At the same time, the frame H) will be rotated in an opposite direction, as indicated by the clockwise arrows within the frame s.

Fixed to the upper extremity cf the vertical shaft 21, above the stationary support ll, is a directional vane 40. It is obvious that When this vane 46 is turned, it will also turn the bevel gear 35 to which both the vane 46 and the shaft 21 are fixed, and this turning will vary the angular positioning of the vanes !4, !5, IS, and l' with respect to the wind during the rotational cycle of the frame !0. For operation of the rotating frame ID, the bevel gears 33 must be free to rotate on the bevel gear 35. If the bevel gears 33 are locked to the gear 35, the movable frame IO will be locked to the directional vane 40, and the device will be either inoperative or movable at such a low rate of speed that no power will be produced. Such looking may be accomplished by means of a dog 42 pivoted to the lower extremity of the shaft 2 l, below the pulley 23, and this dog 42 is insertable in an appropriate slot in the lower face of the pulley 23 to lock the dog 42 to the pulley 23 and to the sleeve 20.

The upper surface of the .support ll is provided with a series of electromagnets 44, arranged in a circle about the center of the shaft 2I. Positioned above each electromagnet 44 is a cup 45 having a pair of flanges 46 arranged radially of the shait 21, 01' perpendicularly'to the path of travel of the directional vane 4 3. The directional vane 49 has an aperture 41, and mounted for vertical movement in the aperture 41 is a piston rod 46. A piston 50 is attached to the piston rod 48 under the lower edge of the directional vane 46. A nut is threaded on the upper end of the piston rod 48, and a spring 52 is positioned between the lower edge of the directional vane 46 and a Washer 53 under the nut 5l. Each of the electromagnets 44 is of sufficient strength and energized to attract the pisten '50 into the cup 45 against the pressure of the spring 52. When so attracted, the pisten 56 will be caught against the flanges 46 of the cup 45 to lock the directional vane 46. When the electrical circuit of the electromagnets 44 is broken, the spring 52 will at once retract the piston 50 and release the directional vane 40. I

The wiring circuit ,for'the electromagnets 44 includes a governing vane, which is also mounted for movement about a vertical axis on the upper' surface of the support H. This governing vane 55 is adapted to contact a series of contacts'fion the upper surface of the support Il. There are as many contacts 55 as there are electromagnets 44, and each one of the Contacts 56 is electrically connected to an appropriate electromagnet 44. The circuit between any one of the contacts 56 and its complementary electromagnet 44 will be completed when the governing vane 55 is in proper position. An example is shownin Figure 4 of the drawings. When the vanes 46 and 55 are as shown, the circuit is completed and the directional vane 40' is locked in position, as hereinbefore described. When the wind shifts, the governing vane 55 will be moved first, and the electrical circuit will at once be broken. Whatever electromagnet 44 is holding the piston 50 will be de-energized, and the directional vane 40 will then be free to turn to the same re1ative position as the governing vane 55, at which time the pisten 56 will pass over the newly-activated magnet 44 and become locked in its new position.

If desired, the electrical circuit will includegin addition to a battery 51, a battery charger 58, a voltage regulator 59, and an overload cut-out 60.

A second form of wind motor is shown in Figure 7 of the drawings.

In this form of the invention, an apertured rame SI, having a series of vanes 62 fixed thereto on the inside, is adapted to rotate about a vertical axis 63. The vanes 62 are shown as curved, but they may have any shape desired. The action of this motor does not depend upon the curvature or shape of the vanes 62, but principally on the angle of the vanes 62 with respect to the frame 6I. This angle should be substantially 45. The vanes 62 should extend about half-way between the frame 6l and the vertical shaft 63. With the wind coming from the right, as indicated in Figure 7 of the drawings, the air will be entrapped within the frame SI to build up a high pressure therein. As the air leaves the frame 61 to emerge on the leeward or left side, it reacts with the vanes 62, as indicated by the arrows within the rame El, to rotate the frame 61 in a counter-clockwise direction. It is necessary to have a solid disc top and a solid disc bottom on the frame 6! in order to build up the high pressure within the frame SI. An arcuate shield 65 that is positioned by a directional vane is arranged to cover a sector of the frame 6! for the purpose of channelizing the incoming air to increase the efiiciency of the device.

Figure 8 shows in schematic form a third species of the invention.

A frame 'H is mounted for rotation on a vertical shaft 12. A series of vanes 13 is carried within the frame H, each one of the vanes 13 being hinged about a vertical pin 14. The pins 14 are arranged symmetrically and equidistant rrom the vertical shaft 12. The frame 'Il also carries a pair of stops for each of the vanes 13. Each pair of stops comprises an inner stop 15 and an outer stop 16, these stops limiting the movement of the vane 13 about its pin 14. The location of the stops 15 and 16 is such that each of the vanes '13 is held at the proper position to divert part of the wind to the interior of the mill. With the wind coming from the right, as indicated in the figure, the vanes 13 will assume the positions shown, so that the resultant of all the forces will tend to turn the frame 'Il in a counter-clockwise direction.

To avoid bouncing and chattering of the vanes 13 against their'stops 15 and 'I 6, each of the vanes 13 is provided on both sides with a friction catch 18. The stops 15 and 'IS are provided with complementary catches 19 to frictionally engage the catches 16. As a result, when a vane 13 is pushed against one of the stops 15 or 16, the friction catches 18 and 19 will engage to lock the vanes 13 in position, until such time as the frame 'H has g rotated to permit the wind to force the vanes 13 against the opposite stop.

In this species of the invention, the frame 'll is again provided with a solid upper disc and a solid lower disc to channelize the air within the frame 'll to build up high pressure therein. This high pressure, as itleaves the frame 'Il on the low pressure side, reactswith-the vanes 13 to rotate the frame ll. w

I claim: I

1. In a wind motor, a stationary frame, a shaft journaled vertically in said frame, a rotatable frame rotatably mounted on said shaft, a plurality of vertical vanes rotatably mounted on the rotatable frame for rotation about axes parallel to the axis of the rotatable frame, a control 'dis i recti nal vane fixed to the shaft for rotating the shaft in response to a change in the direction or the wind, means connecting said shaft' to the 'vanes `for transmitting rotary movement of the shaft to the vanes whereby the inclinatlon of the vanes is simultaneously varied, and 'electromagneti' means for releasably looking the directional vane' to? the stationary frame.

2. Ina wind motor, a stationary rane. a shaft vertlcally joumaled in the frame, af r'otatable frame j'including a supporting sleeve rotatably circumposed on the shaft, a plurality of vertical vanes rotatably mounted on the frame. means for simultaneously varying the pltch of the vanes includlng a dlrectional vane fixed to the shaft for rotating the shaft, a gearing connecting the shaft to the vanes for transmitting the rotation of the shaft to the vanes, a governor vane mounted on the name for rotatlon about a vertical axis, a series of electromagnets arranged on the frame about the shaft, a contact carried by the directional vane and adapted to be selectively engaged by the electromagnets to lock the directional vane in various adjusted positions. a source of electrlcal energy. a series ofcontacts selectively engaged by the governor vane, said contacts being arranged in parallel circuits with the electromagnets and the source of electrical energy, whereby movement of the governor vane energizes one of the electromagnets to lock the directional vane.

CHARLES A. KING,

REFEREN CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,651,067 Nitardy Nov. 29, 1927 1,812,741 Esplnosa June 30, 1931 1,964,347 Ford June 26, 1934 &038.467 Zanoski Apr. 21, 1936 &428.515 Courson Oct. 7, 1947 &4361747 Du Bre Feb. 24, 1948 

